The rationale behind
running focus groups as opposed to any other method arose from the observation
at the SESERV Oxford workshop that there was an urgent need to adopt a
multi-disciplinary approach to discussion. Focus groups are specifically geared
towards an examination of how ideas and concepts develop in a given context. A
focus group approach was an ideal method to encourage such cross-disciplinary
discussion.

As described in the
preceding sections, the focus group methodology found in the literature was
reviewed and either applied directly to the SESERV focus groups, or modified in
some small detail as outlined to suit the topics and group composition
available to SESERV. WP2, focusing on economic issues, adopted a structured
approach, seeding discussion on the basis of a Challenge 1 project presentation
to describe one possible solution to the specific issues under debate. WP3 by
contrast used a less formal approach, using the occasional question to spark
off discussion. In both cases, conversations were lively and generated a
significant set of concepts and ideas which would be worthwhile pursuing and
which are developed in the corresponding deliverables in the respective work
packages.

The Tussle Analysis framework is
composed of a methodology for evaluating Internet technologies (called “tussle
analysis”) and a set of taxonomies. The latter include:

a)An extensive taxonomy of Internet functionalities, which
covers both aspects of how services are being hosted (cloud-related
functionalities) and their actual delivery (network-related functionalities).

b)A generic classification of Internet stakeholder into seven
high-level stakeholder roles, where each one is further decomposed into more
detailed instances.

This methodology encourages and guides technology developers in
identifying the stakeholders of the technologies under
development/investigation, their interests and assessing whether these would be
met with a particular implementation of each such technology. The idea is that
designing a technology in a more holistic way, by taking into account the
interests of major stakeholders early in the process, would lead to more sustainable
socio-economic outcomes and increase the chances of that technology being
adopted in the long-term. The outcomes of all bilateral discussions, wider
focus groups and meetings resulted in a set of 6 economic SESERV recommendations to research projects, providers and policy
makers for successfully redesigning and configuring Future Internet
technologies. These are:

1.Technology makers should understand major
stakeholders' interests.

2.Technology makers should be neutral.

3.Technology makers should explore consequences and
dependencies on complementary technologies.